Xref: utzoo comp.os.msdos.apps:224 sci.crypt:3374 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!nosc!manta!grantk From: grantk@manta.NOSC.MIL (Kelly J. Grant) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps,sci.crypt Subject: Re: Word Perfect "locked document encryption" is trivial to break Message-ID: <1190@manta.NOSC.MIL> Date: 28 Aug 90 20:13:48 GMT References: <12163@hoptoad.uucp> Reply-To: grantk@manta.nosc.mil.UUCP (Kelly J. Grant) Organization: Computer Sciences Corporation Lines: 33 Organization: [...lots of interesting crypto stuff deleted...] I disagree that WP documents are "trivial" to decode. They are possibly trivial for the 'sci.crypt' people who have experience in breaking ciphers and the like, but for people who have no training or knowledge in the subject, I think WP locked documents are perfectly safe for reports or other "private" (but not classified) documents. Of course, now that you have posted a cookbook approach to breaking these documents, they are a little less secure. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to try to figure out the encryption before (I probably still won't). In reality, we all know truly sensitive data should be locked by a "world class" encryption scheme, and then placed in a secure place. But what ciphers can't be broken ? In the larger sense, what is a secure place? What man can build, man can destroy. The WP protection scheme keeps honest people honest, like car door locks. The hackers of this world are greatly outnumbered by people who either could not or would not attempt to break into a document that wasn't thiers in the first place. Actually, I'm glad this was posted. This way, when someone comes into my office wailing about a WP document for which they have fogotten the password I will be able to help. Kelly DISCLAIMER: My opinions are mine. CSC can't have them. -- Kelly Grant grantk@manta.nosc.mil (619) 225-8401 Computer Sciences Corp ^^^^^^^^ Important: manta.UUCP won't get to me 4045 Hancock Street "If you are given lemons.....see if you can trade for San Diego, CA 92110 chocolate" - me